The KP REACH programme is funded by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) to impact on HIV prevention and reduce HIV-related deaths among two main Key Population (KP) categories – Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender persons (LGBT) and sex workers (SW) in eight southern African countries – Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The programme is directed through the Humanist Institute for Cooperation with Developing Countries (HIVOS).

The KP REACH programme was developed by a consortium of KP networks and organisations including the African Men for Sexual Health and Rights (AMSHeR), African Sex Worker Alliance (ASWA), Coalition of African Lesbians (CAL), the emerging Southern Africa Trans* Forum, Positive Vibes, SAfAIDS and M&C Saatchi World Services (M&CS WS). Guidance to the programme is provided by a Communications Working Group (CWG) comprised of representatives from the KP networks, their member organisations across the eight programme countries, M&CS and HIVOS.

During 2016 and 2017, a series of studies were commissioned by M&CS WS to understand how to reduce stigma and discrimination as a key barrier to service access through the development and dissemination of messages co-created with KP Networks to shift attitudes and beliefs across key segments of public.

The overall study comprised five components: 1) A literature review; 2) A cultural analysis; 3) Hypothesis Testing; 4) Co-creation; 5) Stimulus review. Components 3-5 involved qualitative research in all eight countries. This took the form of a series of participatory workshops with youth, men, women and stakeholders, and was complemented by interviews with stakeholders, LGBT and SW. Read more via KP Reach